High voltage switch



MrchSO, 19243. R. HUTTINGER HIGH VOLTAGE SWITCH Filed Feb. 1, 1941 5 sheets-sheet 1 INI MarchkBO, 1943. w. R. HUTTINGr-:R f .2,315,428

HIGH VOLTAGE ASWITCHr A I med Feb. 1, 1941 i s sheetS-sheetz f2 5- U' *do 51 v y .Y 1 l I i I/ I' 1 1 l I/ i y -6 0 37 I f .A l' l 4 /f// 36 I I 1 A l' n 1&3 4o l i z. I

l I 1 E March 30, 1943. Y w. R. HUTTINGER 2,315,428

HIGH VOLTAGE SWITCH Filed Feb. l, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 w. R. HUTTINGER f HIGH VOLTAGE WITCH March 301, 1943.

5 sheets-sheet 4 Filed Feb. l, `1941 March 30, 1943. w. R. HUTTINGER 2,315,423

` HIGH VOLTAGE SWITCH v Filed Feb. l, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 @y am@ 7J 16 f2 3,---5 l T* r l /56 1 6: Y H ll/N l Nv/[IHN] Hmmm/U@ Hlihl um" l factures.'

n man vollmar: SWITCH v AWilliam R. Huttinger, Lansdowna Ia.` j y l v Application This inventionfrelates tozhigh voltage switches and has'for an important object thereof the provision of a switchblade haVingclampingjaWs for forcibly engaging thev coac'tingv arms with means for locking 1 the jaws in .ltheir gripping position, the locking tionarycontact4 together rmeans beingf's'o constructed that it may be readily released bya primary movement of the actuating apparatus controlling movement of the movable blade. s

Another robject o'ffthe invention is to provide a switch mechanism of this character in which the operating parts may be housed to the greatest possible "extentgthereby operation or diicult manipulation as a result of collection of ice about the various switch parts.l Still another' object: of the invention is the of a sta- Y through. The opposite lIl y ber I1 -with which the pivot I5 is directly engaged,

February 1, 1941, serial No. 377,031- 4 claims. (o1. zoo-4s) a switch head I8 adapted to engage with switch preventing failure in spacing of vthe head n upon which the blades I9 of a provision of a constructiony of this characterA struction and'which may be very readily manu- These and wherein,` for f the ypurpose and wherein: f

Fig. 1 is a plan-view partially in section of a switch u'nit constructed' in`IY accordance withmyinvention; A

Fig. 2 is aside elevation partially in sefztion oiv of Fig. 1", the'switch parts being shown in a ite-- leased position;

Fig. 41s a similar section showing ythe vswitch z. parts in the lockedposition; f y

- Fig. 51st` seetioneon unes- 5 of Fig. 4i" Y Fig. I6 is a sider elevation of the'operating porvtioxioi the switch with'the switch in closed position;

Fig. 'l is positioni" a similar view Fig. 8 Ais a"horizontal-sectional'view through the rswitch head taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 9;

Y Fig.` 9 is a vertical sectional view throughthe switchA head; f

Figz'10'is av horizontal sectional viewthrough a modified 'form of 'switch head;

Fig.l 11 is` a vertical sectional view switch head s'nown in Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 isla section on "line I2-I2 of'Fig.` ;-and i Fig.' 13 is asectional view through the counter,- balance employed switch arm.

for balancing the weight of the other objects l attain by the cori-A struction shown inv the accompanying drawingsof illustration, 1 have shown ai preferred embodiment of my invention,

through the y which will be very simple and durable in con- 1 contacts I9 mounted upon a suitable insulator 270, and a tube 2-I connecting housingv I8 and of such length"asto provide'for proper l and housing;y Insulator has 'a blade base 22 iixed'contact are' mounted, said base mounting a cushioning bumper 23 limiting the movement of the switch headinto theclosed position, and being likewise adaptedfas at 24 `for the attachment l thereto of a bus.V

The switch headof Figures 1 to 9, shown more particularly inFigures 8 and 9', comprises a hollow casing 25 having ajiixed jaw 26'adapted for coaction with one of the blades vI9* and a` movable jaw 21'. -The movable jawcomprises one arm of a Y 40 with the switch in. open 'be noted that` portion i5v of `the movable jawv iseffected. An operating rod '1 is connected to cross-head 33 and 4actuated in llever'. 'pivoted ,at 28, sai'l the'casing 25. Arm 29 is`v`v provided with .ap longitudinally-extending slot having obtusely angularly related portions 3'and engaging in the'slot'of arm lever Aarm 28 `disposed within 3l. Within suitable guides' 432 formedv on the casingy walls, a cross-head 33 is mounted upon rollers 34 and this cross-head has a further'roller that if the cross-head 33 is moved to the right from the position illustrated in Figures 8 and 9,

the cross-head V.will'by'its' transposition from one to the other of the angularly related portions of v the slot cause the leverto rotate about its pivot,

movable jaw 21 to cause it to I' thereby shifting the disengage from the Vassociated'contact I9.` It will elongated so that asubstantial movement of the cross-head must take place before anymovement a mannernow tobe described.

Rotatably` mounted 'in housing I1 is ashait 33 .whi`ch is provided within the housing with an arm 31 vto which the inner endr of yrod 3'5y is pivoted as at 38. The pivot I5 comprises a stationary shaft about which housing," 39. Rotatably` I1 is rotatable in suitable bearings I0 is a second insulator i2having I'I Aand head" having its` secondI 29. It will be obvious- 3D of the slot is relatively l the upper portion of theA mounted on this shaft is a toggle link 40 the free end of which is link-connected by links 4I to pivot 38. A spring 42 surrounding the shaft constantly urges link 48 in the direction of the arrow A of Figures 3 and 4, thus tending to straighten the toggle.

Rotatably mounted upon pivot shaft I5 is a stop arm 43 having at its outer end an adjustable stop 44. While arm 43 may rotate freely in the direction of the arrow B, Figure 3, its movement in the opposite direction is limited by coacting shoulders 45, formed on the hub of arm 43, and

46, formed on a collar 41 fixed to shaft I5. These shoulders engage during movement of the switch arm I6 to the closed position, positively limiting movement of arm 43 at the position shown in Figure 3. As casing I1 rotates about its pivot, however, arm 43 is free to remain at the position shown in Figure 3 and will only be shifted at the time when the casing wall and. more particularly,

the removable cover plate 48 through which adi justment of stop 44 is effected, comes in contact f with the stop. The position of stop 44 is such, as more clearly shown in Figure 4, that when the switchvis in its closed position an extensionof the pivot pin 49 connecting link 40 withl links 4| engages this pivot pin and maintains the toggle in its broken position, that is to say, a position where pressure applied through pivot 38 will tend to fold it against the action of spring 42 to the position shown in Figure 3.` During rotation of housing `I1 about its pivot, from the position shown in Figures 3 and 4 to the elevated or open position of the switch as illustrated in Figure 7, stop 44 becomes ineffectiveand toggle links 40, 4I are moved by spring 42 to their locking position, as illustrated in Figure 7. In this position they will remain until during movement from the position shown in Figure '1 toward that illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 they have arrived at the position shown in Figure 4. At this time the shoulders 45 and 46 are in engagement and the movement of arm 43 is arrested and the stop has sufficiently engaged with the pivot 49 connecting the toggle linksto break the toggle. At the same time, the switch head has its jaws in opposition to and in proper position lfor engagement with the blades I 9 of the stationary contact of the spring 68. As the switch arm I6 moves towards its closed position, spring 60 is compressed and in its compression assists in checking the movement of the arm. The compressed spring during movement of the arm from the horizontal closed position to the vertical open position will, of course, assist in elevating the same.

In considering the operation of the mechanism, let it be supposed that it is disposed in the position shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 6, i. e., in the closed position, and ythat it is .desired to open lthe switch. The jaws of switch head I8 are at this time locked against the arms of stationary contact I 9 by reason of the fact that link 52 and arm 54 of shaft I I constitute a toggle mechanism which, in the fully closed position of the jaws of switch head I8, has its central pivot, included in the universal connection 53, arranged beyond a plane including the vertical pivot 63 of link 52 to arms 50 and the axis of the shaft II. Therefore, any force acting to elevate .head I8 must shift the pivot of the toggle mechanism in a direction in opposition to the arrow E, which shift is prevented by reason of the fact thatthe crosshead 33 is then at the inner vlimitoi its movement and/or by engagement of a portiongof the operating mechanism 64 by av fixed stop 65. Consequently, shaft II can only be rotated in the switch. At this time further rotation of the shaft inthe direction of the arrow C will break the toggle against the action of spring 42 causing the jaws of the switch head to forcibly engage the contacts I9.

Externally of the housing I1 shaft 36 is equipped with a pair of arms 5I! between which a rotatable element 5I is supported. This rotatable element is engaged by one end of a'link 52 the opposite end of which is universally connected at 53 with an arm 54 secured to the upper end of shaft II. Between the housing I1 and that end of the lsupporting framework I3 which' is mounted on insulating post IIia counter-balancng mechanism 55 is arranged, this mechanism being so constructed that it willresist the fallingy weight of switch arm I6 and, accordingly, assist in elevating the same. As at present shown, this mechanism comprises a housing 56 into one end of which extends an arm 51 pivotallyconnected to the frame or supporting structure I3 adjacent shaft I I as at 58. This arm extends into the casing 56 and has at its free end a flange 51 forming a seat for one end of a spring 68. The casing 56 is pivotally connected to the housing I1 as at 6I and has arranged interiorly thereof a. fixed disc 62 forming a seat for the opposite end of direction of arrow E and rotation in this direction first breaks the toggle consisting of the link 52 and arm '54 and then rotates shaft 36 in the direction indicated by arrow C' of Figure 3. Rotation of shaft 36 in this directionvcauses rod 35 to shift tothe outer end 3| of. the slot of lever arm 28 with the result that the movable'jaw 21 separates from the fixed jaw 26 freeing the outer end of the switch arm I6 for movement. When this portion of the motion is completed, stop 44 will positively limit movement of the central pivot v49 of the toggle mechanism 48, 4I and thereafter -strain placed upon link 52 through arm 54 will act to cause swinging of the switch arm I6 about pivot I5. vAs the switch armelevates, the shoulders 45 and 46 disengage permittingflug stop 44 to recede under the pressure placed thereagainst by pivot 49 through the action of spring 42. Spring 42 will move the toggle mechanism 48, 4I

to a locking position at which itis checked by thev coaction of stops 66 and 61 carried respectively by links 48 and 4I. Thistoggle mechanism will, therefore, during closing movement of thefswitch act as a lock preventing rotation of shaft 36 until the switch arm is moved from the position shownin Figure 7 to the position shownvin Figure 4, at which timestop 44 by its engagement with ,pin 49`will break the toggle 46, 4I so that continued motion of the link 52 in adirection opposed to the arrow F of Figure 4 will collapse the toggle against the action of spring 42 to the position shown in Figure 3 tion of shaft 36.

It has been hereinbefore pointed out that at the time when the mechanism moving toward its closed position reaches the position illustrated in Figure 4, jaws 26 and 21,V are arranged in opposition to the switch arms I9 and are in readiness to clamp thereagainst; the final portion of the closing movement of operating mechanism 64 will of course serve to lock the toggle mechanism 52, 54 and thus lock thevjaws 28, 21 against thereby permitting rota- Y form of head illustrated in Figures 10, 1l, and

12, the head 6B has pivotally mounted therein a pair of levers 69 opposed faces of which havev Levers 69 are each provided, on the arms thereof bearing surfaces `1|), with a lug 13 adapted -to extend through an opening 14 in the casing wall. The cross-head 15 is guided from casing ribs 16 as in the construction hereinbefore described and bears rollers 11 for engagement with adjacent vfaces of the levers 69. When the crosshead is positioned to engage the surfaces 10, the lugs 13 are projected through the openings 14 to engage the contacts or horns 12. When, however, the cross-head is shifted to engage the surfaces 1| of levers B9, these lugs are drawn into the casing freeing the head 68 for movement. In a construction of this character the utilization of a fixed stop associated with the operating mechanism is advisable.

It will be obvious that a mechanism of the type `just described is relatively` simple in its construction, operation, and adjustment, and may be so housed that there is little danger of interference with its operation through the collection of foreign matter on the contacts. It will also be obvious that the specific construction illustrated is capable of considerable modification without departing from the spirit of my invention and I, accordingly, do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. In a switch of the type described, a stationary contact, a switch arm pivoted at one end and having at its free end a contact head for engagement with said stationary contact, relatively movable members carried by said con- 3 coaction withsaidy contact, said members being centrally pivoted to permit relative movement of corresponding endsy thereof into and out of clamping engagement with said stationary contact. a rod movable longitudinally of the switch arm, said member having angularly related cam faces at opposite sides of the pivots thereof with Y which said rod coacts, the engagement of the rod with said cam faces positively shifting said members about their pivots into and out of clamping positions and means preventing operation of said rod when the contact head is out of engagement with the stationary contact.

3. In a switch of the type described, a stationary contact, a switch arm pivoted' at one end and having at its free end a contact head for engagement with said'stationary contact, said Contact head comprising a pairof members for coaction with said contact at least one of which is pivoted to permit relative movement of the members into and out of clamping engagement with said stationary contact, a rod movable longitudinally of the switch arm, said pivoted member having angularly related cam ,faces with which said rod coacts, the engagement of the rod with said cam faces positively shifting said member about its pivot into and out of clamping position, an oscillatable arm for shifting said rod, a toggle mechanism acting in one position thereof to positively lock the rod against movement when said head is out of alignment with the stationary' contact; a, spring normally holdsaid members having engaging and releasing positions, a single actuating means for shifting said switch arm to engage and disengage the contact head and said stationary contact, a reciprocable member having camming engagement with said movable members to positively shift the same to contact-engaging and disengaging positions, means including a toggle mechanism acting in one position thereto to positively lock the reciprocable member against movement when said head is out of alignment with the stationary contact, a spring normally holding the toggle in said position, and a stop to engage and to break the toggle against the Vaction of said spring and thereby permit movement oi the lreciprocable member when -the head is in alignment With the stationary contact.

' 2. In a switch of the type described, a staing the togglein said position and a stop to engage and breakA the toggle againstthe action of said spring and thereby permit movement of 'the rod'fwhen the head is in alignment with the stationary contact.

4. In a switch of the type described, a stationary contact, a switch arm pivoted at one end and having at its free end a contact head for engagement with said' stationary contact, said contact head comprising a. pair of members .for coaction with said Contact, said .members being centrally pivoted to permit relative movement of corresponding ends thereof into and outoi clamping engagement with said stationary contact, a rod movable longitudinally of the switch arm,v said member having angularly related cam faces at opposite sides of the pivots tionary contact, a switch arm pivoted at one end thereof with which said rod coacts, the engagement of the rod with said cam faces positively -shifting said members about their pivots into and out of clamping positions, an oscillatable arm for shifting said roda toggle mechanism acting in one position thereof to positively lock the rod against movement when said head is out of alignment with the stationary contact, a spring normally holding the toggle in said position and a stop to engage and break thel toggle against the action of said spring and thereby permit movement of the rod when the head is in alignment with the stationary'contact.

WILLIAM R. HUTTIN GER. 

